Whale Watching Week December 26 thru 30

Bring binoculars for a chance to view gray whales during Winter Whale Watch Week, Dec. 26-30. “The 24 designated ‘Whale Watching Spoken Here’ sites were selected because they are some of the best viewpoints to spot the roughly 18,000 whales that cruise past Oregon on their annual southbound migration,” said Ian Fawley, Whale Watching Center interpretive ranger. Trained volunteers will be available at these sites along the coast 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. daily to help visitors learn about the whales’ migration and feeding habits, and offer tips on how to spot the whales.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily during the watch week. The whale watching center has general exhibits on whales, staff to answer questions and ‘whale size’ windows with panoramic ocean views.

OPRD coordinates both the winter and spring whale watch weeks in partnership with federal, state and local organizations. More information about the Whale Watching Spoken Here program and a map of the official viewpoints are available online at www.whalespoken.org.

Become a Whale Watching Spoken Here Volunteer!

Want to help visitors see and learn about the gray whales? Training sessions are scheduled Jan. 12 at Port Orford, Ore. and Feb. 9 at Nehalem, Ore. The sessions teach you to find, identify and understand the whales along the Oregon Coast. Training is free if you pre-register and sign up to volunteer at one of the watch sites for at least two days during a Watch Week. Interested? Visit www.whalespoken.org and look for the training registration & agenda information.